Self-starting constant pressure internal-combustion engine



2,379,838 sELr -sTARTInGconsTANT PRESSURE INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINE--J'u ly 3, 1945. q

. A. STANZEL Filed June 22; 1942 s Sheets-sheet '1 4 0057 couficron 57July 3,1945. G, A, STANZEL 2,379,838

SELF-STARTING CONSTANT PRESSURE INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed June22, 1942 3 Sheets-sheet 2 July 3, 1945. G. A. STANZEL 2,379,833

SELF-STARTING CONSTANT PRESSURE INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENG INE Filed Jung22, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet a Patented July 3, 1945 SELF-STAR'EIN G CONSTANTPRESSURE INTERNAL-COBIBUSTION ENGINE' George A. Stanzel,,l)es Moines,Iowa Application June 22, 1942, Serial No. 447,952

9 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved internal combustion engine andmore particularly to a type of engine adapted to utilize a mixture ofair and gases or vapors for fuekwherein the mixture is delivered to theengine at a constant pressure substantially equal to the workingpressure of the fuel under combustion, rather than from a rapid increasein pressure of short duration suchas employed in the ordinary internalcombustion engine now in common use. By applying a constant pressure tothe piston a more uniform torque will be applied to the engine shaftthan would be possible with the explosive type of engine.

It is, therefore, the object of my invention to provide an improvedinternal combustion engine particularly adapted to be operated by aconstant pressure and having a high piston velocity to reduce, as far aspossible, heat radiation and vibration.

A further object of my invention is to provide an internal combustionengine wherein the torque applied to the engine shaft is substantiallyuni-' form with a comparativelyminimum number of cylinders or workingunits involved.

To accomplish the aboveres ults it is believed that the rotary type ofengine isv best suited to my purpose and that a comparatively longpiston stroke may be utilized as compared to its diameter. It is,therefore, a further object of my invention to provide a rotary enginewherein substantially all of the moving parts operate in a rotary mannerto eliminate as far as possible all reciprocating elements and vibrationresulting therefrom.

A further object is to provide in arotary engine employing an annularworking chamber and a piston rotatably mounted therein, an improvedabutment which, is also rotatably mounted to operate at synchronizedspeed therewith,- and in connection therewith, improved means forseating or sealing the abutment against gas leakage.

A further object of my invention is to provide an internal combustionengine so constructed and arranged as to be substantially self-startingwithout the use 'of auxiliary devices .cr mechanisms such as batteries,springs, or auxiliary pneumatic or hydraulic starters.

A further object is to provide in an internal combustion engine of thetype above described, improved means foreoiitrolling the flow ofcombustible fuel into the cylinders by the use oftwo 7.

units operated from a common shaft, which may develop a constant torqueon the shaft through an angle of 360, or wherein,-for the sake ofmaximum power and fuel economy, this constant torque may be somewhatvaried at the will of the operator. A further object of my invention isto provide an internal combustion engine of the type above describedhaving means wherein various types 'of ignition may be employed to suitthe type of fuel used. 1

A further object is to provide in an internal combustion engine of therotary type employing a rotary abutment, improved means for internallycooling the abutment to prevent w'arpage,

overheating, and burning of lubricant.

A further object is to provide in an internal combustion engine of thetype above. described,

improved means 'for delivering combustible fuel to the engine underconstant pressure.

Myinvention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination ofthe various parts an of the device, whereby the objects contemplated areattained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims,and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved internal combustion engine,a portion of the fuel tank being broken away; l Figure 2 is an endelevation of the same;

Figure 3 is an enlarged segmental side elevation of the engine, portionsbeing broken away to show'the interior construction;

Figure 4 is a detail sectional viewltaken on the line 4- of Figure 3;Figure 5 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken on the line 5-5 ofFigure 2;

Figure 6 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken on the line 6-6 ofFigure '1;

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken on the line Figure 8a is afragmentary View partly in section as seen on the line 8w8a in Fig. 8;

Figure 9' is a perspective view of my improved abutment;

operating the valves; and Figure 11 is a diagrammatical viewillustrating the manner in which the ends of the valve stems engage oneof the cams of said cam shaft; My improved engine comprises a pair ofouter casings or supports. ill, spaced apart and operatively connectedby means of a base il. Each casing is preferably formed of two sectionsjoined together on a central vertical plane I 2, each cases ing I0including a cylindrical cavity, l3 substansectional 'view Figure 10 is aside elevation of the cam shaft for I tially rectangular in crosssection, as clearly illustrated in Figure 8, having inwardly projectingbers bein spaced apart a slight distance.

Rotatably mountedin the hubs I4 is a shaft I5 common to both casings.and mounted within each of the cavities I3 is an annular member I whichis also formed of two halves connected to ether byfmeans 'of boltsforming a unit hub members I4, the inner ends of the hub memrotatablymounted onv the hub members I4 and I within the said cavity. The member-I6 has formed therein a working chamber or cylinder B circular in crosssection. The member I6 is also provided with. cavities I9 surroundingthe walls of the working chamber for receivin a coolin angularity of 2or 3, for the purposes hereinafter made clear.

Fixed to the shaft I 5 and between the ends of the hubs I4 is a hub 22.fixed thereto by means of a key 23, the said hub having a flange 24mounted between the inner edges 25 of the members l6 to form means forsupporting the piston 26. said piston being fixed thereto and providedwith a suitable packing ring 21. the edges 25 each being provided withan annular roove 28 in which are mounted packing rings 29 to preventleakage from-the cylinder chamber I8 past the flange 24. Supported inthe members I6 are.

pipes 30, each of which is provided with a spring 3| having its innerend terminating in an 'inwardly extending portion 32 designed to rest vagainst the outer rings 29 to yleldably retain'said.

rings in operative "position. The pines-30 are the member l0 largeenough to permit rocking movement of the members l 6. The casing I0 isextended through enlargedopenings 33 formed in a I provided with aportion 34 having an annular recess 35 concentric to a verticalaxiswhich is substantially tangent with the combustion chamber I8. Themember 34 has a hub.36 designed to rotatably support a vertical shaft31, said shaft also being mountedin an upright frame member 7 39, thelower end of the shaft, 31 terminating in what I shall term as anabutment 39. comprising a disc-like head 46 and a downwardly extendingannular flange 4| designed to operate, in the recess 35.- The flange 4|is also. mounted to rotate in an arcuate slot 42 formed in thesmember 6,as clearl shown in Figures 4 and '7, the said slot 42 being concentrictothe axis of the shaft 31 and radially of the shaft I5, the bottom edgeof said slot 42 terminating at the top edge of the member 24 so that theflange 4| forms an abutpiston 26; The said piston and the notch 43 aretimed so that the piston passes through the notch without engaging thesaid abutment flange.

In order to maintain a gas ti ht seal between the abutmentflange and therig t-hand side of the arcuate-slot 42, as viewed in Figure 4, means isprovided for moving the casing |6 in a direction counter to that of thepiston and within the casing I0, 50 that a tight seal isalwaysmaintained to prevent leakage of gas. The top side of the outer casingI0 is provided with a notch, 49 to permit the head 50 to be fixed to thetop side of the casing I6 by means of bolts 5|, said head 50being'formed with a combustion chamber 52 communicating-with the workingchamber l8 by means of a passage 53. The said head 50 is provided with aradially projecting lug 54 for slidably receiving a plunger 55 which isin communication with the combustion chamber 52 and has its outer endengaging a'set screw 56 carried by a bracket 5! mounted on the casingIIl. Fuel is supplied to the chamber 52 under pressure which is appliedagainst the inner end of the plunger 55 tending to movevthe' saidplunger outwardly against the said screw which is fixed againstmovement,

which will then in turn tend to rotate the head'5ll.

in an anticlockwise direction and with it the member I6, causingpressure to be applied between the members I6 and 4|, for the purpose offorming a gas-tight seal at that end of the working chamber I8. v

T maintain a small amount of pressure on the said member l6 when thereis no pressure in the chamber 52 I have provided a spring 58 having oneend resting against the head 50 and the other end against a flange 59projecting laterally from the bracket 51, this spring 58- bcing of suchtension asto apply only enough pressure between the members l6 and 4| asto maintain contact between said members at such times as when pressureis not applied to the combustion chamher, the pressure of the fuelproviding additional pressure to seal said members 4| and I6, the presplug 64.

with a valve seat 61 for supporting the valve 68 mounted on a valveshaft 69 projecting thr ugh The outer end of. each of the chambers 52'is provided with a plug having electrically insulated wire 66 whichserves as a hot wire when connected in a proper electric circuit, notshown. The walls of the chamber 52 are also provided the inner ends ofthe head 56. Both of th alve ill, each of said valves being yieldablymaintained ment closing transversely the working chamber I8 at .a pointabove the shaft I5, the said flange 4| having a notch 43 through whichthepiston 26 may travel when'the said flange 4| is in'oneposition of itsrotary movement. The said shaft I5,

together with the flange 4|, is synchronized by a pinion 45 mounted on ashaft 46, the said shaft being rotatably/mounte'd in the frame 38 anddriven -by means of a chain 41 and sprocket wheels 48' mounted on theshafts I5 and 46, as illustrated in Figure 3, thus providing meanswhereby the abutment flange 4| is rotated continuously and in unisonwith the rotation of the in their closed position by means of a springFor actuating said valve stems I have provided a shaft'l2 having itslower end rotatably mounted in a bracket 15 and its-upper end in asuitable bearing 14, said shaft being supported between the heads I0 androtated bymeans of mitre gears I6, one of which is fixed to the shaftl5; said shaft 12 is provided with a cam adapted to. engage the valveheads III alternately as the shaft I2 is rotated. Since the valvestems,69. are arranged diametrically opposite, it will bev seen that atno time are both of the valves 68 closed at the same time. 1 The cam I1is so debeing filled partially to signed as to hold the valve 68 openwhile the piston 26 is passing through its angular path of 180 or more.A second cam I8 is also mounted on the shaft I2 above the cam I7, and sodesigned as to maintain the corresponding valve 58 in anv open positionduring a time period as compared to the rotation of the piston 26 ofless than 180.

within the upper gear I6 and the bearing 14, so

that either of the cams TI or I8, or the interconnected to the shaft I2by means of a pin 88' operating in a groovev mounted on the upper end ofthe shaft I2.

For deliveringa charge of fuel to the chambers 52 I have provided apressure tank 85 adapted t9 support in its lower side liquid fuel suchas gasoline or heavier fuels, if so desired, the tank provide acompressed air space 88 above the fuel. a

' Supported at one end of the shaft I is anair compressor 87 connectedto said shaft by means of a suitable coupling 88, the air compressorbeing provided with a pipe 89 for delivering air under pressure to theupper portion of the tank 85, said pipe including a dust collector 98 orany suitable type for separating dust from the air as itenters the tank,85. A' pipe 9I leads from to permit fuel to be injected into the head92.

The shaft I2 is slidably mounted longitudinallythe tank 85 to amixinghead 92. A pipe 93 has one end connected at or near the bottom endof the tank 85, and its oppositeend to said mixing, head 92, the innerend of said pipe terminating in a nozzle 94. A check valve 93a isincluded in is a set screw 95 providing means for adjusting the mixtureof fuel and air. The lower end of .the head 92 is provided with acontrol valve 96 and a box 91. Elbows 98 are mounted in the lower sideof the box 91, each beingconnected to the pipe 99, which in turn isconnected to the corresponding head 58 and in communicationwith thecorresponding chamber 52. Each of the pipes 99 is filledwith a porousmetallic material, such as steel wool I88, to prevent a flame from thecombustion chamber 52 entering the box 91. Fuel is delivered to the tank85 by means of a funnel I8I and a tank I82, a valve I83 operativelyconnecting the tanks I82 and 85, while-avalve- I84 operatively connectsthe funnel I8I and the tank I82. The tank- 85-may then be filled byclosing the valve I83 and opening the valve I84 and filling the tank I82through the funnel I8I I83. Fuel would then flowthrough the passage -I85and air upwardly through the passage I 86 and the pipe IN.

I said valve I88 providing means for differentiating the pressurebetweenthe pressure in the head 92 andthe fuel pressure, the airpressure within the head 92 being slightly less than the fuel pressuresoas to permit resistance-of the the pipe 93. Opposite the end of thenozzle 98 box 91 The mixture of the charge may be varied by adjustingthe set screw 95. The charge-will then flow downwardly through the valve96 into the and the pipes 99, into the chambers 52. The charge may thenbe ignited by the hot wire 86,.heated preferably by an electric currentfrom a battery and conductor, not shown. The current can usually be shutoff after the engine is started, as the combustion in the chamber 52 iscontinuous. The ignited fuel will then be allowed to enter the passage58, into the working chamber I8 at the time the piston 26 is at itsdotted. line position, as illustrated in Figure 4. Expansion of the fuelunder combustion will cause the piston to rotate in a clockwisedirection until it reaches a point near the exhaust 58, at which timethe valve 88 is then closed by means of the cam TI and the spring II.The notch 43 on the abutment M will rotate into position to permit thepiston 28 to-pass therethrough, after which the above cycle ofoperations will again be repeated. v I 1 It will be seen from the camand valve arrangement that fuel is admitted to the two chambers 52 andI8 alternately so that pressure is applied to one or the other of thepistons 29 all of the time, thereby providing means whereby a continuousand to the shaft I5.

If it is desired to cut off the charge earlier so as to utilize theexpansion of the heated gases,

the lever 89 may be moved downwardly after disengaging the pin BI fromthe latch 82, to posiof the set screw 95 and the ignition accomplishedby means of the spark plugs 64 and suitable timing mechanism connectedwith the shaft I5, not illustrated, inasmuch as this timing mechanism isof ordinary construction and forms no part of my presentinvention.

In order to maintain the abutment M at such temperature that it will-notbecome overheated to burn its lubricant, or become warped, I havesupported in the hollow shaft 31 a pipe I89 having at its lower end adisc II8 supported. within a chamber II I formed in the member 48, theupand closing the valve I84 and opening the valve' speed.

, through the opening II 5 to any suitable per end of the pipe I82 beingin communication with the water supply II2, permitting the water orany'other cooling fluid to flow downwardly through the pipe I89 past thelower surface of the disc I I8, thence upwardly overthe top of the saiddisc aroundthe outside of the pipe I89 into a .a chamber H3,- throughopenings. II3a. A fan I I4 is mounted on the upper end of the said shaft31 to assist incirculating said cooling fluid, the fluid beingdischarged from the chamber II 3 supply tank.

Thusit will be seen that I have provided an internal combustion engineof comparativelysimple construction .which may be operated atcomparatively high speed with a minimum amount of vibration, inasmuch assubstantially all of the moving parts are It will further be seen that Ihave provided an internal combustion engine wherein comparativelyuniform torque may be applied to the en-- ine shaft with the utilizationof no more than uniform torque may be applied rotating at uniformstruction caused by the elimination of a large number of parts such asused in multiple cylinder engines of the explosive or the Diesel types.

It will further be seen that I have provided an internal combustionengine having some of the advantages of the Diesel type of enginewithout the utilization of such high pressure,-and' furthe having anadvantage-over the Diesel engine in that my improved engine may bestarted without the use of auxiliary staging devices such as springs,batteries or auxiliary pressure tanks, my improved engine being startedsimply by closing the ignition circuit and opening the valve 98,pressure of fuel and air from the tank 85 furnishing pressure to startthe pistons in rotation, after which the rotation will continue/underexpansion from the fuel as ignition takes place and the temperatureraises.

Another advantage in my construction lies in the manner in which an airtight seal is maintained between the abutment 4| and the walls of theworking chamber and the manner in which this pressure is automaticallyvaried to correspond to any change in the working fuel pressure.

A further advantage of-my improved engine is that it may be operated oncomparatively cheap 'as'rasss two power units, thereby simplifying thecon- 2. In a rotary type engine, a support, acas'ing,

rotatably supported on said support andhaving an annular cylindertherein, a housing with a combustion chamber therein carried onsaidcasing, passage means connecting said combustion chamber with saidcylinder, a shaft mounted in tween said piston and abutment, stop meanson.

fuel and at lower pressure than is possible in the Diesel type ofengine, burning with approximate-.

ly equal emciency fuels of either high or low octane rating.

Another advantage of my invention is in forming the working chambercircular in cross section, and the piston carried by the disc-likeflange 24 on the hub 22. By forming the working chamber circular incross section, an expandible annular packing may be employed on thepiston.

the pressure pump 81 removed. Steam or compressed air may then beintroduced through the pipe 89. My improved abutment arrangement,together with the means for forming the working chamber and supportingthe piston, is adapted to be used in connection with steam as well asexplosive or slow burning fuels.

I claim as my invention:

1. In aldevice of the class described, a casing including" a cylindricalrecess, a second casing rotatably mounted in said recess, including anannular working chamber circular in cross sec- I tionfa shaftconcentrically supported within said casings, a rotatable piston'withinsaid working chamber carried by said shaft, said second casing beingprovided with an arcuate and radial slot, an annular abutment rotatablein. said'arcuate slot, means for rotating said abutment and piston inunison, means for applying a pressure tosaid second casing in adirection opposite to the direction of rotation of said piston to urgesaid second casing against said abutment, and

means for injecting burning fuel and air mixture 1 under pressure intosaid working chamber between said piston and said abutment.

saidsupport and concentrically extended through said casing to rotatablysupport said casing, a piston carried on said shaft and rotatable withinsaid cylinder, said casing being provided with a'transversely extendedarcuate slot, an annular abutment rotatable in said slot across saidcylinder, means for synchronously operating said abutment and piston,means for feeding a combustible mixture under pressure into said comebustion chamber, means for igniting the combustible mixture in saidcombustion chamber, v

with the burning mixture fronrsaid combustion chamber being admitted atsaid pressure through said passage means and into said cylinder besaidsupport-adjacent said housing, and a plung er slidably supported in saidhousing with one end open to said combustion chamber and an. oppositeend engageable with said stop means,

with the pressure in said combustion chamber moving said plunger againstsaid stop means and urging said housing and said casing therewith in adirection away from said stop means to force the casingat the slottherein against said abutment.

3. In a device of the class described, a station-' ary support,a casingrotatable within said support including an annular cylinder, a shaftmounted in said support andconcentrically within said casing, saidcasing being mounted to oscillate about said shaft and provided with anarcuate and radial slot, an annularabutmena-having a notch in the sidethereof rotatabl within said slot and adapted to close said cylinderduring substantially three-fourths of its revolution, a. pistonsupported by. said shaft to rotate within said cylinder and to passthrough the notch during the other one-fourth of the revolution of saidabutment, means for injecting burning fuel under pressure into saidcylinder between said piston and abutment, and means for applying apressure on said casing to urge the same in a direction opposite to therotation of said piston and against said abutment. v

-4. Ina device of the class described, a stationary support, a casingincluding an annular work ing chamber, a shaft mounted in'said supportconcentrically within said casing, and pivotally mounting said casing torock relative to said support, said casing and .said support including athe same,' means for introducing fluid under transverse slotintercepting said'working chamher, an abutment slidably mounted. withinsaid slot to'shut off and open said chamber, a piston carried by saidshaft within said chamber, means for synchronizing the movement of saidpiston with the movement of said abutment, wherein the piston will bepermitted to pass the abutment when in its open position, means forapplying yieldable pressure to said casing to cause contact between thewalls of one side of said transverse slot of said casing-with saidabutment for sealing pressure into said chamber between said piston andsaid abutment at anoint near one side of said abutmentfandmeans forexhausting said I fluid in said chamber at a point near the oppositeside of said abutment. 1

5. In a rotary engine, a stationary support, a casing including anannular cylinder, a shaft mounted in said support and concentricallywithin said casing, said casing being mounted on said support tooscillate about said shaftand provided with an arcuate and radial slot,an annular abutment having a notchinone' edge, said abutment beingrotatable within said slot and adapted to close said annular chamberduring substantially three-fourths of its revolution, a piston supportedby said shaft to rotate within said cylinder and to pass through thenotch in said abutment during substantially the other one-fourth of therevolution of said abutment, a combustion chamber carried on said casingand connected with said cylinder, means for admitting a combustiblemixture under pressure to said combustion chamber,

with the burning mixture passing into said'oylinder between said pistonand abutment, means for applying a pressure to urge said casing in 'adirection opposite the rotation of said piston in proportion to thepressure within said combustion merit of said abutmentf wherein thepistonwill chamber to force said casing against said abutment, and meansfor applying a normal pressure in said direction to said casing.

6. In a rotary type engine, a support, a casing rotatably mounted onsaid support including an "annular cylinder, a shaft mounted in saidsupport in a concentric relation with said casing, a rotatable pistonfor said cylinder carried by said shaft, said casingbeing provided withan arcuate and radial slot, an annular abutment rhtatable in said slotacross said cylinder, means 1 for rotating said abutment and piston inunison, I and means for applying a pressure on said casing in adirection opposite to the direction of rotation of said piston to urgesaid casing against said abutment. v

7. In a device of the class described, a stationary support, a casingincluding an annular workin chamber, a shaft mounted in said supportconcentrically within .said casing, and pivotally mounting said casingto rock relative to said support, said casing and seal support includinga transverse slot'intercepting said working chamber, an abutment movable.within said slot to close and opensaid chamber, a. piston carried bysaid shaft within said chamber, means for synchronizing the movement ofsaid piston with the movepass said abutment when said eylinder is' open,means for applying a yieldable pressure .to said casing to rock saidcasing to maintainccnrtact between the walls of one side of saidtransverse slot of said casing with said-abutment for sealing the same,means for introducing fluid under. pressure into said working chamberbetween said piston and said abutment at a'point near one side of saidabutment, and, means for exhausting said fluid in said'chamber at apoint near the opposite side or said abutment.

8. In a rotary engine, a support, a' casing rotatable in said supportand having a circular cylinder therein, a piston for said cylinder, saideasing having an arcuate slot extended transversely therethrough, acup-shaped rotary abutment having the side wall thereof rotatable insaid slot across said cylinder, said side wall having a notch therein toselectively open and close said cylinder as said abutment is rotated,means synchronously operating said abutment and said piston so that saidpiston passes through the notch in said abutment, combustion chambermeans carried on said casing and connected with said cylinder adjacentone side of said slot, means for admitting a com- 1 bustible mixtureundenpressure into said comfluid sealing engagement.

bustion chamber means, and means for applying the pressure in saidcombustion chamber means to said casing" to urge said one side of theslot against said rotary abutment to maintain a fluidtight sealtherebetween.

9. In a rotary engine, a support, a casing-rotatable on said supporthaving an annular cylinder therein andan arcuate slot, extendedtransversely thereof, a cup-shaped rotary abutment having the side wallhereof rotatable in said slot and across said cylin er, an exhaustpassage adjacent one side of said slot, means for injecting a burningmixture into said cylinder adjacent the opposite sideof said slot, andmeans for applying a pressure on said casing in a direction to urge thesame toward said abutment to maintain said opposite side of the slot andsaid abutment in GEORGE A. STAN-ZEL.

